Children{3 s merry-go-round

ABSTRACT

A merry-go-round for children having electrical driving means and having extensible and retractible seat arms and foldable leg members adapting the structure to be compactly collapsed for storage and transportation.

United States Patent Inventor Charles L. Curry 332 Pleasant View Drive,Hurst, Tex. 76053 Jan. 31, 1969 Jan. 26, 1971 Appl. No. Filed PatentedCHILDREN'S MERRY-GO-ROUND 2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 272/39 A63g 1/10 Field of Search 272/39, 30,

54. 56, 33; 34/5(6.4B), 5(6.4C), 5(6.4G)

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1893 Scearce 7/1918 Elzey 27254 5/1958 Meyers 272/30 3/1961 Behrens 272 54x 9/1964 Borsuk 272/39FOREIGN PATENTS 12 1950 GreatBritain 272 33 Primary ExaminerAnton O.Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Arnold W. Kramer Att0rneyCecil L. WoodABSTRACT: A merry-go-round for children having electrical driving meansand having extensible and retractible seat arms and foldable leg membersadapting the structure to be compactly collapsed for storage andtransportation.

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Charles L.Curry BY WK Z K/ ATTORNEY PATENTEn Jmeslsn I 3.558129 i I I"al gm gym "all" J4 J4 4 Fl 9 .5

Charles L. Curry Ma /fwd) ATTORNEY CHILDRENS MERRY-GO-ROUND SUMMARY Thisinvention relates to a merry-go-round for children, and it hasparticular reference to an electrically driven device capable of beingcompactly folded or dismantled.

A prime object of the invention resides in the provision of an amusementdevice for entertaining small children indoors or out, and possessesfeatures of .construction enabling the device to be readily assembledfor use or folded into a compact unit to be conveniently transported orstored when not in use.

Another object of the invention is that of providing an economical anddurable animated-amusement device which is safe for use by children oftender years, having few exposed mechanical parts which could pose anysignificant accident hazards to the users.

A still further object of the invention is that of providing anelectrically driven merrygo-round having adjustable features, such asthe shortening or lengthening of the seat arms thereby affording meansfor balancing these elements with regard to the respective weights ofthe riders, and providing for necessary restrictions as to spacelimitations in which the device is operated, such as room dimensions,and the like.

Broadly, the invention is designed to provide a simple and practicalentertainment medium by which small children can amuse themselvesunattended in relative safety and which can be operated in areas wherespace is limited, such as indoors, and providing for the readydisposition of the device when in nonuse.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects willbecome apparent as the description proceeds when considered inconnection with the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in its operativecondition, the seats being shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention in which the seats are also shownin broken lines.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the invention in its collapsed or foldedcondition for transportation or storage, the seats having been removed.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary illustration showing the hub assembly, includingthe tubular sleeves for telescopically receiving the seat arms which arefragmentarily shown.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, on line 6-6 of FIG.5, showing the rotary hub element, the nonfriction bearings, thesupporting casting and the driving elements.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, on line 7-7 of FIG. 6, throughthe supporting casting, the driving elements being shown in brokenlines, and showing the manner of locking the legs in operativepositions, the latter being fragmentarily shown.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner of locking theleg members in operative positions, one of which is shown fragmentarily,and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary illustration, partially in section, showing thetelescopic association between the seat arms and the tubular sleeves onthe hub assembly, and showing the setscrew locking means.

The invention primarily comprises a base assembly composed of a casting10 which may be rectangular shape, as shown best in FIG. 7, having abored socket 1 l at each corner to receive the angular upper ends 12 ofa set of four legs 13 which, in normal use, extend radially outwardlyand have their outer ends 14 bent downwardly to provide foot membershaving tips 15 thereon, as shown in FIGS. 1,2, 3 and 4.

The upper ends 12 of the legs 13 are rotatable in the sockets I1 and canbe secured in either of two rotative positions by elongated screws 16arranged therethrough and through horizontal bore holes 17 or 18 andthreaded into the casting I0, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7 thelegs 13 are shown in their extended positions, as indicated in FIGS. Iand 2, and in FIG. 8 these members are shown in their folded positions,as shown in FIG. 4. The screws 16 are removed from one of the holes [7or I8 and inserted in the other to change the position of each leg I3,or a horizontal slot (not shown) may be provided to connect the holes l7and 18, if desired, so that the legs 13 may be properly rotated withoutcompletely removing the screws I6.

The casting 10 is formed with a circular boss 19 on its upper face, acircumferential groove 20 being formed about the boss 19, as shown inFIG. 6. A circular ball race 2] is provided in the upper surface of theboss 19 for a plurality of balls 22 rotatably supporting a hub element23 having a complementary ball race 24 in the under surface thereof. Thehub element 23 is preferably circular and has a depending skirt 25 whichembraces the boss 19 and encloses the bearing assembly.

The hub 23 is rotatably secured to the casting 10 by a spindle bolt 26,threaded on its upper end which extends through a central bore in thehub 23, and has a nut 27 and a washer 28 thereon. The lower end of thespindle bolt 26 is enlarged to provide a circumferential shoulder 29which is rotatably seated in a circular cavity 30 formed in the casting10, the body of the bolt 26 extending upwardly through a bore 31centrally of the casting 10, as shown in FIG. 6. A bores socket 32 isprovided in the lower enlarged portion of the spindle bolt 26 having akeyway therein whose function will become apparent.

The hub 23 is rotated by an electric motor 33 whose casing is formedwith a plate 34 having a plurality of radial ears 35 therearound throughwhich cap screws 36 are arranged by which the plate 34 is secured to agear housing 37 attached by screws 38 arranged through ears 39 thereonto the casting 10,

as shown in FIG. 6. The shaft of the motor 33 is arranged through theplate 34 and has a small gear 40 thereon which is meshed with a largergear 41 on a stub shaft 42 joumaled at its lower end in a bushing 43seated in a well 44 formed in the plate 34. The upper end of the shaft42 being arranged through the upper wall of the housing 37 and extendinginto the socket 32 in the lower end of the spindle bolt 26 and isadapted to rotate the latter by reason of a key 45 on the keyway.

Attached to the top of the hub 23, by screws 46, is a plate 47 having anupturned flange 48 on. opposite sides thereof, as shown best in FIGS? 5and 6, and a plurality of parallel cylindrical sleeves 49 are arrangedacross the plate 47 having their opposing ends extending through spacedholes 50 in the flanges 48 and welded thereto. The ends of the sleeves49 are projected substantially beyond the flanges 48, as shown in FIGS.1, 2, 3 and 4. The hub 23, with the plate 47 attached thereto, providesa carriage for the opposing horizontal arms 51, on the outer ends ofwhich are seated 52, shown in broken lines in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, whichmay be of any desired form, and attached by belts or screws 53 to thearms 51.

The arms 51 are elongated U-shaped, and are preferably formed of solidround stock, having the free end of each of the legs 54 thereoftelescopically received in one of the sleeves 49, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, and slidably adjustable longitudinally thereof to be rigidlysecured by setscrews 55, the an rangement being such that the arms 51are slightly offset from longitudinal alignment without affecting therotational balance of the mechanism. In addition to the nut 27 on thespindle bolt 26, the hub 23 is rotatably retained on its bearing by ascrew 56 threaded through a thickened portion 57 of the hub 23 andextended into the groove 20 formed about the boss 19, as shown in FIG.6.

In FIG. 4 is illustrated the manner in which the structure can be foldedinto a compact unit, this is accomplished by removing the seats 52 fromthe arms 51 and sliding their legs 54 through their respective sleeves49. The legs 13, which support the assembly in operation, are broughttogether in pairs and locked in such positions by removing the screws 16from the bore holes 17 in the casting 10 to the holes 18 therein, or tothe position illustrated in FIG. 8 as opposed to the positions shown inFIG. 7. The device may then be conveniently stored or crated.

The invention may obviously be modified in respect to the arrangement ofparts without departing from the spirit and intent thereof.

I claim:

1. ln a merry-go-round for children, a portable and foldable structurecomprising: a base assembly, including a casting having four radiallyand equidistantly spaced sockets formed in its undersurface, a circularboss having a ball race formed therein on the upper face of saidcasting, and a plurality of balls in said race, supporting leg memberseach having an upper end pivotally arranged in a respective one of saidsockets, the said leg members being normally extended radially from saidcasting in the operative position of said base assembly. a hub memberformed with a hall race in its undersurfaee rotatably seated on saidballs. a spindle bolt for rotatably securing said hub member to saidcasting. a plurality ofaxially parallel tubular sleeves on said hubmember. a pair of seat arms telescopically received in said sleeves. andextending from opposite sides of said hub member. Each arm having a seaton its outer end, and drive means for said hub member.

2. The structure of claim 1, the said leg members being paired. and eachrespective pair being rotatable to an adjacent aligned position on anopposite side of said casting from the other rotatable and adjacentlyaligned pair, and said seat arms being slidable longitudinally in saidsleeves, whereby said legs and said arms can be respectively compactlyfolded and retracted.

1. In a merry-go-round for children, a portable and foldable structurecomprising: a base assembly, including a casting having four radiallyand equidistantly spaced sockets formed in its undersurface, a circularboss having a ball race formed therein on the upper face of saidcasting, and a plurality of balls in said race, supporting leg memberseach having an upper end pivotally arranged in a respective one of saidsockets, the said leg members being normally extended radially from saidcasting in the operative position of said base assembly, a hub memberformed with a ball race in its undersurface rotatably seated on saidballs, a spindle bolt for rotatably securing said hub member to saidcasting, a plurality of axially parallel tubular sleeves on said hubmember, a pair of seat arms telescopically received in said sleeves andextending from opposite sides of said hub member. Each arm having a seaton its outer end, and drive means for said hub member.
 2. The structureof claim 1, the said leg members being paired, and each respective pairbeing rotatable to an adjacent aligned position on an opposite side ofsaid casting from the other rotatable and adjacently aligned pair, andsaid seat arms being slidable longitudinally in said sleeves, wherebysaid legs and said arms can be respectively compactly folded andretracted.